Divined: The Oracle Chronicles, #4

By Moni Boyce

Willow's fight for survival isn't over yet.

Now that all of her known enemies have been defeated, Willow is hoping for the opportunity to settle down and find a sense of normalcy and peace with Eli. Unfortunately, that's not to be.

Not only is their happily ever after threatened by other supernaturals that believe mixing of supernatural factions is wrong; a dream within The Book of Prophecy foretells of a sinister presence that will destroy everything Willow holds dear.

The only way to stop this revelation from coming true may be to sacrifice the very thing she's trying to protect.

Willow and Eli's love has been tested before, but this unfulfilled prophecy may take them to the breaking point.

Will their love require them to make the ultimate sacrifice? Or will they find another way to defeat this evil force and have a happy ending?

DIVINED is the fourth and final installment of The Oracle Chronicles series.

• Language: English
• Publisher: Moni Boyce
• Release date: Dec 17, 2019
• ISBN: 9781733393720

Moni Boyce

Moni Boyce is a writer, filmmaker, poet and author of the new romance novel Redemption of the Heart. She spent the last fifteen years working in the film industry and now creates characters of her own and brings them to life on the page. Moni has ghostwritten romance novellas and novels for over a year now and decided to put some of her own creations out in the world. She considers herself a bookworm, film buff, foodie, music lover and an avid world traveler having visited 31 countries and counting. She lives a bit of a nomadic life, but considers Los Angeles home. Which is the subject of her first travel book: Greater Than A Tourist – Los Angeles, California: 50 Travel Tips From A Local.

Book preview

CHAPTER 1

Eli

THEY’RE HERE.

Eli looked up at Phaedra, who was blocking out the remainder of the waning light as she stood over him. She reached out her hand and helped pull him to his feet.

It hadn’t taken long for any of them to arrive. He felt tremendous appreciation and gratitude to everyone who turned up to help find Willow. Although, he wasn’t sure if it was because their relationship with him, or because they’d fallen in love with Willow the minute they met her just like he had. He really didn’t care.

Arsenio’s quick stride across Arthur’s Seat brought them face-to-face in a matter of seconds. The bear of a man pumped his hand up and down. So sorry to hear about Willow. We came as soon as we got the message. However we can help. Just as he finished, the twins, Lysander and Hadrian, came to flank him on either side.

Hadrian reached out his hand. Like he said, anything you need, we’re here.

Eli shook his hand and when Lysander offered his hand, minus any heartfelt words, he shook his hand too.

For the next fifteen minutes, witches from some of the local covens approached him and pledged to help find Willow. When he saw Anippe and Gamal walking towards him with a tall blonde haired man that resembled Ulrik, he had to blink a few times. As they drew closer, he could see it wasn’t Ulrik.

Anippe. He hugged her. I hadn’t expected you to come. The reason, hung in the air between them.

He was fond of her... In an effort to calm the swirling emotions, she drew in a breath and exhaled before continuing. I do this not only for myself, but for him also. Her glassy eyes held his for a moment.

Gamal stepped forward and clasped his hand. Anippe cleared her throat. I want to introduce Rolf. The blonde haired man that resembled Ulrik stepped forward. His shoulders were broader than Ulrik. He is Ulrik’s brother.

The werewolf. It was all that Eli managed to say as he took in the similarities again. He definitely looked like he belonged in the pages of a history book where they discussed Vikings, just like his brother.

My brother must have trusted you, if he shared that piece of information with you. Rolf’s studied gaze was trained on him. He scrutinized him without apology, like he was trying to figure out why Ulrik had trusted him. If the guy was broken up over the loss of his brother, he couldn’t tell. Before Eli could say anything further, Rolf lost interest in him, when his eyes landed on Phaedra. Who are you?

Most women at this point would have been all blushes and giggles to be under the admiring eyes of a man that looked like Rolf, but Phaedra looked back at him with a disinterested look. Phaedra.

Max wasted no time in putting his arm around Phaedra and growling low in his throat at Rolf. In an instant, Rolf’s relaxed stance went on high alert in the midst of another wolf. If they had been in their dog or werewolf form, both men would have raised hackles. Snarling went back and forth between the two, like they were the only two standing on the hill.

Max would have hell to pay later for the territorial gesture. No one treated Phaedra like she was some prize to be won, a possession or in this case, a bone that two dogs were fighting over.

If it hadn’t been for the fact that they were all here to save Willow, he might have enjoyed seeing Rolf and Max fight over Phaedra, if only so he could tease her about it. He’s sure he would even have watched in amusement as Rolf did his best to try and win Phaedra over, only to be met with abuse and her sharp tongue.

Now that we’re all here. Let’s get started strategizing about how this should work. Thankfully, that broke the hostility and tension that were brewing between Rolf and Max.

Rolf tore his angry scowl from Max and gave Phaedra another appreciative glance before getting down to business. I would have brought the rest of my pack with me, but we were in the middle of handling a job. When Anippe called I knew my brother would have been here if he was still alive so I came in his stead.

Despite him riling up Max, he appreciated that Rolf made the trip. He was certainly no Ulrik, who seemed to have manners and chivalry, but he made up for it with two other characteristics his brother had in abundance: honor and loyalty.

Once everyone gathered around, Eli started laying out his plan. What we know is that Killian’s castle is somewhere here in Scotland. We don’t even have a hint of a location yet, but that’s where all of you come in. He looked around at the sea of eager faces. More of us, means we can cover more ground. We’re trying to hit up all the supernatural factions to see who might have information or know anything. There is bound to be someone that has information on where he is holding Willow. It’s imperative we find her. I don’t have to tell you all what’s at stake if we don’t. For the first time since they’d all gathered, the air hung heavy with the grimness of the situation.

If they didn’t find Willow, it could mean the end of the world, as they knew it. Once Killian gained control over Willow by turning her or bending her to his will it would be game over.

Phaedra’s going to split you up into groups and assign you a city or area of the country to cover. Each hour, everyone needs to report back here and check in. That way we can cross off places or know if anyone has found out information that may be helpful.

From there, Phaedra took charge and began assigning everyone. People teleported to their destinations once they were given everything they needed.

CHAPTER 2

Willow

WHAT THE HELL? Morgana’s words were cut short as Willow continued to situate and lodge her soul securely in Morgana’s body. Cosmo warned her to expect resistance, and Morgana was doing her best to force her out, but she dug in. My will... is stronger than yours. She said the words not only to prove to Morgana how serious she was, but also to push herself and will herself to believe that she could triumph over her. If she couldn’t take complete possession, she wasn’t sure there would be another chance or way to kill Killian.

The only thing working in her favor was that she had taken Morgana by surprise. It was hard to describe what fighting with someone’s soul felt like. The only word she could think to describe it was unpleasant. As they dueled for dominance, Morgana’s body was like a marionette on a string. It tripped, stumbled and flailed about like it was under the control of some other force. She banged into the mirror, before whirling about and striking Morgana’s knee against the bed.

Thankfully, she was quicker than Morgana. She spit out the words of one of the spells Brielle had given her and was able to bind and suppress Morgana, which included her capability to talk. Attineo hic venefica de effectio magia. The spell abruptly put an end to most of Morgana’s struggles. She could tell her use of magic had rendered Morgana dumbfounded. At least she now had some semblance of control over the body and could hopefully get past any guards undetected on the way to Killian.

A frisson of fear traveled up her spine, or rather Morgana’s spine. Hopefully, no one had heard all of the crashing around that went on and come to investigate. Revulsion settled in her stomach. She hated being in Morgana’s body, given all the awful things she’d done.

Morgana’s presence was still keenly felt. Occasionally, her steps jerked or halted as she left Morgana’s chamber and walked along the dimly lit hall. Morgana was trying her best to keep her from her goal.

Things began to look familiar the closer she got to Killian’s room. Her confidence grew steadily over the lack of obstacles and opponents in her way. You got this.

She rounded the corner of the hall that would take her to Killian’s room, and saw one of the vampires leaning against the wall reading a magazine. Her confidence plummeted for a second, but then she squared her shoulders and straightened her posture. She had to make this guard believe she was Morgana. It was all in the attitude and haughty nature that Morgana exuded. If she could pull that off, she’d be able to get into Killian’s room without any trouble.

The guard looked up from the article he was reading as she approached. She fought the urge to wave or say hello, knowing that Morgana would deem herself above the help. She stuck her nose in the air and didn’t even look at him as she spoke. He’s expecting me. We wish to be alone... Finally, she turned her gaze on him and delivered an icy glare. Leave. Hopefully, her performance had done the trick. The corner of her mouth quivered. Morgana was trying her best to break through, but the spell was keeping her in check... for now.

His eyebrow narrowed at the tic. She didn’t let her eye contact waver as she kept shooting him the best death stare she could muster. Do I need to tell Killian you disobeyed me? She placed her hands on her hips to let him know she meant business.

He huffed and stood to his full height. Towering over her, he looked down his nose at her like he wanted to do something. Instead he rolled up his magazine and walked off down the hall.

Bitch. He flung the word over his shoulder, making it clear he didn’t care if she heard him or not. Part of her wanted to break character and agree with him. Morgana was that and more.

She watched him turn the corner before she turned to Killian’s bedroom door. Inhaling deeply, she shut her eyes and prepared herself to step inside. After a long exhale, she opened her eyes and pushed the door open.

What took you so long?

Her back stiffened when she heard his voice. She’d prayed and hoped he would be asleep when she entered. Dread pooled in her stomach. His voice was dangerously close, like he was standing right next to her. When she’d told the guard he was expecting her, it had been a lie told to gain her entrance. She hadn’t considered they would actually be meeting.

The darkness of the room kept her from seeing him right away. His eyes were the first things she saw. She swallowed the scream that clawed its way up the back of her throat. He loomed in the darkness about a foot in front of her. The rest of him came into view as he stepped into her personal space, his naked chest an inch away from crushing her breasts.

Oh my goodness! He knows who I am. He knows it’s not Morgana. Her mind panicked, while she remained outwardly calm. Just like she’d done with the guard she kept her gaze locked on his and waited.

In an instant his mouth was on hers. For a minute, she was stunned as his mouth claimed hers in a searing kiss that took and then demanded admittance. Her mouth fell open, but not because she wanted to kiss him back. His tongue forced its way into her mouth and bile rose up the back of her throat. Was he planning to rape her?

Placing her palms against his chest to push him and his greedy mouth away, she went still at his words.

Morgana... He whispered the name against her lips, before trailing his tongue to her neck and kissing her there. Why do you always keep me waiting?

Killian and Morgana are lovers? Rapidly, she blinked, while her brain processed this new information. That’s why Morgana was awake at this hour and had just showered. They must have been keeping the affair a secret as much as possible since Killian had decreed that vampires wouldn’t consort with non-vampires. It was already going against his mandate that Morgana was here helping him in the first place.

The placement of her hands on his chest only stoked his desire, and in a swift motion he moved them to the bed. She’d been so caught up in her thoughts she forgot she was touching him. Now she was under him and trying not to vomit. Not only would she give herself away if she puked now, but she’d choke since she was on her back. His ravenous tongue kept assaulting her neck.

Her body was traitorous. A small part of her started to respond to the pleasurable sensations. It’s Killian. The guy who wants us dead, remember? She tried to remind herself. Suddenly, her hand seized upon Killian’s dick like it had found the prize in a scavenger hunt and she was reminded that she currently inhabited Morgana’s body. It was Morgana responding to her lover, not her.

‘Go away.’ She hissed inside her head. There was no way she would let them have sex while she was inside Morgana’s body. She turned her head and tried to squirm out from underneath his body.

What’s wrong? His hand stroked the flesh of Morgana’s arm.

Nothing. She stammered, while her brain sought an excuse. Clearly, Morgana had come to his bedroom for sex, what would be a reason that she would stall the main event? Uhm...

He leaned into her, and used his tongue to tickle a spot beneath her ear.

Uhm... what are we going to do about Willow and getting the information about the Book of Prophecy.

Subtly, she scooted an inch away from him while she waited on his answer.

Patience. His hands never ceased their quest to remove the nightgown she was wearing.

Tell me now. She asserted, believing that’s what Morgana would do, demand.

His movements came to a halt. The hand that had been mere inches from reaching its goal pulled away. Do you not believe in my ability to get what I want? He pulled back to look at her, his eyes discerning and scrutinizing.

She swung her legs over the side of the bed and stood, giving him her back. That was close. If he stared into her eyes too long, he might unearth her secret